Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Mistakes related to Eid-ul-FitrAsma bint Shameem

Mistake#1: Spending the night of Eid in worship.

Some people think that it is prescribed to spend the night of Eid in worship based on a WEAK hadeeth which says, “Whoever stays up on the night of Eid, his heart will not die on the day when hearts die.” This hadeeth is NOT saheeh. (Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth al-Da’eefah wa’l-Mawdoo’ah by Sheikh al-Albaani)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “The ahaadeeth in which the nights before the two Eids are mentioned are falsely attributed to the Prophet (pbuh).”

So DO NOT single out the night of Eid for Ibaadah, as this is a kind of bidah that is NOT proven from the Prophet (pbuh), unless it is part of you NORMAL nightly routine.

Mistake#2: Celebrating “Chand Raat”

Some people do the exact opposite of the above and spend the night before Eid, singing, dancing , listening to music, with free mixing of men and women, lack of hijaab and Hayaa’. They forget the promise they made to Allaah to stay away from haraam. Do you really want to throw away all your hard work and effort you put in worship during Ramadaan for just a few hours of utterly useless waste of time?

Mistake#3: Fasting on the Day of Eid

It is haraam to fast on the Day of Eid “He [the Prophet (pbuh)] forbade fasting on the day of (Eid) al-Fitr and the day of al-Nahr (Eid al-Adha).” (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Mistake#4: Visiting graves specifically on the day of Eid

Do not make it a point to visit graves on this day only. To do so is bid‘ah as it goes against the teaching of the Prophet (pbuh). It comes under the general meaning of the Prophet’s prohibition on visiting graves on a specific day and making that like a festival. (Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz wa Bidauha by al-Albaani)

However, if one visits the graves throughout the year, there is no harm.

Mistake#5: Women mixing with men in the prayer area and elsewhere

It is haraam for women and men to mix and mingle with each other if they are not mahrams, whether throughout the year or during Eid.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Beware of entering upon women.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what do you think about the brother-in-law?” he said: “The brother in law is death.” (Bukhaari, Muslim).

Mistake#6: Women going out wearing perfume and makeup, and without hijaab

This is a problem which is widespread, and many people take this matter lightly, although it is FARD for an adult Muslim woman to wear hijaab and cover herself and her hair. Remember sisters, you will be asked about this on the Day you stand in front of Allaah.

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to draw their cloaks all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Ahzaab:59]..

The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.” (al-Nasaa’i, al-Tirmidhi-hasan )

Mistake#7: Listening to music and attending Eid parties with haraam things.

It is haraam to listen to music, yet people take this matter very lightly. It is on TV and radio, in cars, homes and marketplaces, and even cell phones. This confirms the words of the Prophet (pbuh), “There will be among my ummah people who will regard adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments as permissible.” (Bukhaari)

One should always observe the limits prescribed by Islam. Although it is from the Sunnah to enjoy the celebration of Eid, one should avoid parties that contain free mixing, and flirting, instruments of the devil, or staying up late to the point of missing Salatul Fajr, etc.

Some people think it is not a big deal if they don’t pray Salatul Eid. However, it is unanimously agreed that the Eid prayer is prescribed in Islam. So much so that some Ulama say that it is fard ‘ayn (an individual obligation), and that not doing it is a sin. The Prophet (pbuh) commanded even the virgins and women in seclusion, i.e., those who did not ordinarily come out, to attend the Eid prayer place.

Mistake#10: Not saying the Takbeeraat out loud (for men) or at the right time

Saying the takbeeraat out loud is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allaah says: “(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” [al-Baqarah:185]

The time for takbeer begins when it is proven that the new moon of Shawwaal has been sighted or thirty days of Ramadaan have been completed. And it ends when the Eid prayer begins. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen)

One of the most common forms of takbeer used by the Prophet (pbuh)was: Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar,
laa ilaaha ill-Allaah,
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar,
wa Lillaahi’l-hamd

(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great,
there is no god except Allaah,
Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great , Allaah is Most Great,
and all praise be to Allaah).

Men should raise their voices reciting this dhikr in the marketplaces, mosques and homes, but women should not raise their voices.

Mistake#11: Thinking that one is released from the “Prison of Ramadaan”

Once Ramadaan ends, one is not “free” to go back to his old sinful ways, free from the constraints of Ramadan. Rather, we celebrate Eid because Allaah blessed us with the opportunity to worship Him and ask for forgiveness. Also, we celebrate with the hope that we are from the ones that will be freed from Hellfire and rewarded with Jannah.

Mistake#12: Delaying Zakaat al-Fitr

One of the rulings on the day of Eid al-Fitr is that Zakaat al-Fitr is due on this day. The Prophet (pbuh) enjoined that it should be paid before the Eid prayer or one or two days before that. Ibn ‘Umar said: “They used to give it one or two days before (Eid) al-Fitr.” (Bukhaari)

If it is paid AFTER the Eid prayer, it DOES NOT as Zakaat al-Fitr. “Whoever pays it before the prayer, it is Zakaat al-Fitr, and whoever pays it after the prayer, it is ordinary charity.”

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مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ"Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do."16:97